dailywordofdestiny

Strong Holds

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.   (2 Corinthians 10: 4, 5)

If we could just get this passage way down deep into our spirit and actually DO IT; what incredible FREEDOM and PEACE we would experience in our daily life!  We are mortal, living in the realities of the present world, but as disciples of Christ, we do not war with mere human weapons.  Our warfare is not ‘against flesh and blood’ (Ephesians 6: 12); therefore, carnal (weak, worldly) weapons will not do.

We need weapons that are God-empowered (mighty in God).  Their purpose is for pulling down (demolishing) strong holds (anything opposing God’s will).  One of the greatest tactics the enemy uses to destroy us is warfare in our minds.  It will almost always involve our arrogant, rebellious ideas and attitudes (arguments) and at the root you will find PRIDE (every high thing) and it will be opposed to the true knowledge of God.  We must consciously aim, moment by moment, to bring EVERY disobedient thought into … obedience to what Christ has revealed to us in His Word.

Mike Donehey is the lead singer for the Christian group, Tenth Avenue North and he gives a down to earth example of bringing everything into the Light of God’s truth.  Check it out by clicking onto the following site:   http://youtu.be/QF1X9VvQbD4

Then listen to one of their new releases called, Healing Begins:  http://youtu.be/BFUHrXfuNU4

It is my prayer that as the world ‘realities’ assault your life, you will meditate on the above scripture and come to really BELIEVE that GOD  IS MIGHTY and HE CAN DO what is IMPOSSIBLE for you to accomplish in your own strength!  God bless you.

Awareness Of His Presence

“… And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28: 20). 

It is important that we stay conscious of God as we go step by step through each day.  His Presence with us is both a promise and a protection.

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven He said that He will be with us always and that  is a promise to all His followers, without exception.

The promise of His Presence is also powerful protection, for as we journey through life, there are numerous pitfalls along the way.  Many voices and things clamor for our attention, enticing us as we go on our way.  A few steps away from your true path are pits of self-pity and despair, plateaus of pride and self-will.  If you take your eyes off Jesus and follow another’s way, you are in grave danger.  Even well-meaning friends can lead you astray if you let them usurp God’s place in your life.

The way to stay on course in your life is to keep your focus on Jesus; continually looking to Him alone for help, comfort, and companionship.  Awareness of our need for Him, in small matters as well as in large ones, keeps us spiritually alive.  Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always (Psalm 105: 4)

Enjoy worshiping with a song by Jeremy Camp  “In Your Presence” (click on link below)

http://youtu.be/6cn6yWbY7a4   and also “The Healing Hand of God”   http://youtu.be/_-aE7zQTeEg

Love Beam

Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass (Matthew 21: 5). 

A sister from Amsterdam sent me a note about a new book called “Donkey Business” and suggested that ‘I was like the donkey, carrying Jesus all around’.  I thought about this and came up with the above verse of scripture and then looked up some of the Greek meanings of key words in it.  So, for all of you reading, I paraphrase the same verse:  Declare to all descendants of the Triumphant Church, ‘Behold, your King cometh unto you, humble, and His sandals are resting on all that is holding you under the yoke of the enemy.  He is the BEAM of the balance that reconnects you to freedom in relationship with God the Father.’

All of us need to rethink where we have positioned ourself in Christ.  Have we renounced, repented, and turned from the enemy of ‘self’ and are we coupled with Christ in humility and love to the glory of our heavenly Father?  Are we allowing Jesus, the Christ to rest His sandals on all of our circumstances?  Are you carrying Him with BALANCE, EASE and TRIUMPH wherever you go?  ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I WILL give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye SHALL find rest unto your souls.  For My yoke IS easy, and My burden IS light.’  (Matthew 11:  28-30). 

I would like to introduce you to Bishop Simon and his ministry in Eldoret, Kenya (via video clip below).  I have been to Africa and the people there worship with such adoration and love for their Savior.  They ‘touch the heart of God” and CARRY the manifested Presence of God into their life circumstances (burdens) because they have nothing else to rely on externally.  We, who have much, often forget how needful we are for His Presence.

Union of Rest

And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made (Genesis 2: 2).  “It is finished” (John 19: 30).

God rested (Hb. shabath: desist from exertion).  Exertion reminds me of sweat and labor of the flesh, and of us doing rather than us being.  True rest does not take any of our own effort.  You don’t have to stir it up, or make it up; you just agree with what the Lord is doing and do as He tells you (i.e. John 5: 19 that He can only do what He sees the Father do).  If He is NOT doing anything you just sit and be quiet.  It is important to note that Jesus also promises His disciples, “…the things I do you can do also…” (John 14: 12).

I believe we are about to see a new and radical CHURCH coming forth and being released in the earth.  Every member of this CHURCH will be so IN LOVE with God, so fused together with His heart and character that they will not do anything without seeing God do it first.  They will say, “Lord, I cease from all my works; what are You doing?”  And then, they will wait on God and SEE Him to do exceeding abundantly above ALL that we ask or think. 

Soul Rest

But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil (Proverbs 1: 33).   The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever (Isaiah 32: 17).

Holy Spirit indwells us as a deposit guaranteeing our eternal inheritance and it is through His power within us that we eventually become Christ-like in character (Epheisans 1: 11-14; Titus 3: 3-8).  HOWEVER, He does not intend to improve us or make us better and better, contrary to general opinion.  He INTENDS to bring us to fullness of death and make us new.  Transformation and change of our ‘soul/inner man’ does not once and for all reform our ‘flesh’ this side of physical death, but it slays its POWER to control us, while clothing us with the righteousness of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1: 30).

IF on this side of mankind’s ultimate perfection, Holy Spirit were to so transform/change/renew any area of a man’s flesh that he could then always rely on as the supposed righteousness of that dimension of his character, that man would inevitably CEASE TO LEAN ON JESUS and would begin to trust in His own flesh.  His perfection would thus have to be total from the get-go, or he could not escape the corruption of (self) PRIDE.  He would lose his thanksgiving, gratitude for Jesus’ continuing salvation.

Therefore, the Lord changes us that we may have confidence and rest, but ONLY IN HIS ABILITY to keep us, not in the strength of our character or will to do right.  We are taught right from the beginning of our life in Christ to put NO confidence in our own flesh, but to rest in Him.  The permanence of our change is in HIS steadfastness, not something solidly built in us except fresh ability to trust in Him (Philippians 3: 3).

Path Of Life

Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:  for thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all day.  (Psalm 25: 4, 5)

As you are able to rest in the midst of celebration, chaos, or diverse situations, you will be able to accept the greatness of ministry, excellence of power, and assumption of responsibility that is in God’s plan for you.  When you wait upon God you will come to know instinctively when you are off center and you will RUN back into His Presence.  Wait for His rest; rest that is fearless, calm, and immovable, free of want and ambition.

TRUST in the LORD with ALL your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He SHALL direct your paths.  In His Presence there is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.  He WILL instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; He WILL guide you with His eye.  The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the ‘perfect day’.

Roots

You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here.  You saw among them their destestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold.  Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.  (Deuteronomy 29: 16-18) (see also Romans 3: 9-18; Ephesians 4: 20-32; Hebrews 12: 15)

Moses cautioned that the day that the Hebrews chose to turn from God, a root would be planted that would produce bitter poison.  When we decide/choose to do what we know is wrong, we plant an evil seed that begins to grow out of control, eventually yielding a crop of sorrow, pain, and misery which can continue into our future generations (as a generational curse).

Gall (wormwood) is a bitter, poisonous herb and is used figuratively to mean a bitter punishment.  Gall and vinegar were offered to Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27: 34), but He REFUSED the drink.  Each of us can prevent the seeds of sin from taking root in our heart.  When we have done something wrong, CONFESS it to God immediately.  If that seed (i.e. anger, malice, gossip, not forgiving, offense, defense, envy, control, worry, fear, etc.) never finds fertile soil, its bitter fruit will never ripen.

Bountiful Harvest

And when the day of Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (language not known to person speaking it), as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of EVERY nation under heaven.  … they were confounded, because they heard these men speak in their language…and HOW hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  (Acts 2: 1-8)

This feast was observed early in the third month on the 50th day after the offering of the barley sheaf at the Feast of Unleaven Bread,  It was also known as the Feast of Harvest.  The early Christian believers, who were gathered in Jerusalem for this feast, experienced the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit in a miraculous way.  I believe we are about to see an even greater outpouring of God’s Spirit over all His people in the near future; for the harvest is ripe.

Today, we see great unrest revolving around the State of Israel, but it should come as no surprise to those who read and study God’s Word.  As the time of the GREAT HARVEST draws ever closer, we shall see even greater unrest not only for Israel, but for all nations of the world.  BUT GOD…I like those words, for GOD is Creator of all things (people, nations, etc) and He is in control. 

Most unrest in the world is due to the greed and pride of men which result in wars and tragedy.  I believe God is all-seeing, all-knowing and all-powerful; that anything that is happening around us is either because He has allowed it to further His ultimate plan for mankind or, He has brought it about Himself.  “That men may know thou, whose name alone is JE-HO’VAH, art the most high over all the earth” (Psalm 83: 18).